Thursday, May 29, 2014

Refugees need protection, not deportation

Press Statement by M Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman
and MP for Ipoh Barat in Ipoh on 28th May 2014

Refugees need protection, not deportation

On May 15th 2014, three Tamil refugees were arrested
and detained for 14 days for offences under the Immigration Act in Kuala
Lumpur.

Later on May 25th the Inspector General of Police
(IGP) told the public that the three are “terrorists” and have been deported to
Sri Lanka. It has to be noted no credible evidence has been presented to
substantiate this allegation despite the fact they have been branded as
supporters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) by the Sri Lankan
authorities.

Is the police aware that the LTTE is not a banned organization
in Malaysia? This was confirmed in a parliamentary reply in 2004 to a question
I raised.

The deportation is most unacceptable as Sri Lanka political
leaders themselves have been alleged to have committed war crimes, genocide,
ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.

In the last three years, UN Humans Rights Council had adopted
resolutions against Sri Lanka for having committed gross abuse of human rights
against principally the Tamil minority.

In the last tail end of the civil war in Sri Lanka in 2009, it
is documented and creditably reported that over 80,000 innocent civilians were
massacred.

If one watches the “No Fire Zone documentary of the killing
fields of Sri Lanka” as screened by Channel 4 of UK, it is undisputedly clear
how deeply involved are the Sri Lankan authorities in butchering and killing of
its own citizens during the war.http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/sri-lankas-killing-fields/

Malaysia is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention which
governs the status of refugees. Notwithstanding this, international law
requires a non signatory to this Convention of refugees not to deport a refugee
if there is a possibility that the refugee may face torture or persecution for
which Sri Lankan authorities are world famous for!

With all these obvious and crystal wrong doings of the Sri
Lankan authorities, how can our investigators suddenly label the 3 detainees as
‘terrorists”?

The three who have been deported will face torture, persecution
and probably even death. Why should Malaysia intentionally assist Sri Lanka?

If the Sri Lankan authorities had said I am involved in
terrorism, would I be deported to Sri Lanka too? Can ties with Sri Lanka
override human right values and protection?

Human Rights Watch while condemning the deportation said “The
report “We Will Teach You a
Lesson” detailed 75 cases of alleged rape and sexual abuse from 2006
to 2012 in both official and secret detention centers throughout Sri Lanka.
Both men and women detainees reported being raped on multiple occasions, often
by several people, with the army, police, and pro-government paramilitary
groups frequently participating”.

This deportation is most cruel and inhumane. Refugees once
granted the UNCHR card must be accorded the necessary protection and not
deportation.